Overview

1. 1. 1. 1. Condenser Microphones vs Dynamic Microphones
         2. Microphone Polar Patterns Explained
         3. Audio-Technica’s Range of Wired Microphones

Do you want a pitch-perfect wired microphone? There are an abundance of wired microphones available, but ensuring you have the best microphone is key to a superior, crystal-clear audio performance. To help make picking a microphone as easy as possible, we’ve put together this wired microphone guide so you can understand whether a condenser mic or dynamic mic will best suit your setup.

Condenser Microphones vs Dynamic Microphones

Condenser microphones tend to have a much higher sensitivity than dynamic microphones. Microphone sensitivity is the amount of output for a given input - the measure of its ability to convert acoustic pressure into an electric voltage. Looking at two commonly used microphones - condenser and dynamic.

The difference between the two microphones is that a dynamic microphone is better equipped to capture loud sounds, such as vocals and drums, particularly in a live setting. On the other hand, condenser microphones are outstanding at capturing delicate sounds and higher frequencies, so they work perfectly in a studio setting. 

What is a dynamic mic? 

Dynamic microphones are able to turn sound waves into a voltage with the use of a magnet, voice-coil and diaphragm. When soundwaves hit a microphone’s diaphragm, the coil attached to the diaphragm moves back and forth - this in turn produces an electrical signal that represents the soundwave. Dynamic mics are built to withstand high sound pressure levels, making them ideal for recording loud sounds in a live setting. 

What is a condenser mic?

Unlike a dynamic microphone, condenser mics are capable of capturing quieter sounds with a high degree of accuracy. Condenser microphones use an electrically charged diaphragm that vibrates when hit by soundwaves. As the diaphragm moves, an electrical signal is generated which is proportional to the sound. 

The differences between the two microphones are summed up in the table below: 

Microphone Polar Patterns Explained

What exactly is a polar pattern? They may seem complicated, but a polar pattern simply describes a microphone's inherent directionality. Polar patterns refer to the sensitivity of any given microphone to sounds arriving from different angles. That means selecting the correct pattern will enable you to avoid unwanted sound bleeding into your recordings. 

The most common polar pattern is cardioid, ideal for live vocal performances or creating a podcast. These mics have the ability to focus on one sound source whilst reducing pickup from the sides and rear, offering crystal-clear audio. 

Furthermore, the hypercardioid polar pattern has the same variations as a cardioid, but has a tighter directionality at the front - these are designed for use on film and television sets. 

Lastly there's an omnidirectional polar pattern, which can pick up sound from all directions to produce a natural, realistic sound. These are often used for film and TV, but are also great for presenting, gaming, podcasting and vlogging. 

Audio-Technica’s Range of Wired Microphones

Choosing a wired microphone can be daunting - from handheld, headworn, boundary, hanging, gooseneck and more, the options can seem endless. Here, we share further information on our range of wired microphones. 

What is a Handheld Microphone?

While these microphones are designed to be held in the hand, they can also be clipped onto a microphone stand whilst someone performs a song, gives a speech or plays an instrument. Handheld microphones are designed to pick up sound directly from the source whilst picking up little background noise.  

Wired handheld microphones convert sound into electrical audio signals that travel through a cable to the sound system - it's a hassle-free setup, but can be restrictive due to the cable's length. An outstanding handheld wired microphone is the AE5400 cardioid condenser mic. Designed for the ultimate vocal performance - handheld mics can deliver pristine sound quality. 

What is a Headworn Microphone?

As implied by the name, these microphones are placed on an individual's head. Headworn microphones are a popular option due to their ease of use, amazing sound quality and flexibility. While worn, the microphone sits securely and unobtrusively close to the sound source, allowing the user to move freely without a microphone in their hand. These mics are designed and engineered for professional-quality vocal pickup with hands-free operation. 

Available in an abundance of styles and sizes, headworn microphones offer highly distinct individual voice reproduction, are comfortable and lightweight and ideal for a performer or presenter who needs the use of their hands. 

What is a Lavalier Microphone? 

A lavalier microphone, also known as a lapel or clip-on mic, is a very small microphone that can be attached to an article of clothing. They are lightweight, discrete, and best suited to situations where the person being recorded doesn't have far to move, such as in a studio location. 

Ideal for both vocal and instrument applications, the Audio-Technica PRO70 cardioid condenser lavalier mic achieves full-sounding pickup and is known for outstanding consistency and dependable, superior performance. Lapel microphones provide natural vocal reproduction when used as a clip-on and also excel at picking up instrumental sound. 

What is a Shotgun Microphone? 

The perfect microphone for broadcasters, videographers and sound recordists, shotgun microphones are used to capture sound from a distance. Shotgun mics are a highly directional microphone that should be pointed directly towards the target sound source. 

When it comes to shotgun microphones, Audio Technica’s AT897 is designed for field audio acquisition in film, TV and video production, professional recording, wildlife recording and broadcast applications. It mounts on to a DV camcorder and will remain out of frame. Shotgun mics offer outstanding long-distance audio pickup and provide smooth, natural-sounding audio quality whilst rejecting sound from the rear and sides. 

What is a Camera-Mount Microphone?

A camera-mount microphone is engineered to work alongside a camcorder or DSLR camera. They are typically lightweight in design and have the ability to mount to the shoe of a camera. Camera-mount microphones, including the Audio-Technica’s AT8024 stereo/mono microphone, deliver dramatically better sound quality than a camera's internal mic. 

Featuring a convenient integral shoe mount and rubber shock mount, camera-mount microphones isolate vibration and mechanical camera noise, meaning the mic can produce a smooth and superior audio performance. 

What is a Stereo Microphone? 

Using two separate capsules to record two tracks of audio, stereo microphones are typically in a  fixed arrangement, facing to the left and right of the mic position. This structure gives more natural-sounding recordings with depth and direction. They are engineered for recording the environment, wildlife and instruments, as they produce highly realistic audio recordings. 

The Audio-Technica AT4050ST stereo condenser microphone with shockmount offers the realism of a live sound field. The innovative side-address mid-side stereo mic is perfect for professional recordings and broadcasting, producing exceptional sound pick-up for the most demanding applications.

What is a Gooseneck Microphone?

Gooseneck microphones are primarily used for conferencing environments or where vocals need to be picked up from presenters who do not want to use a handheld microphone. Gooseneck mics pick up sound from the front of the capsule, and have moderately wide cardioid polar patterns. They’re usually mounted to a lectern or table and have a flexible gooseneck, allowing the microphone to be positioned freely in front of the user.

A great example is the PRO49Q cardioid condenser quick-mount gooseneck microphone, which is designed to plug into any standard XLRF-type surface or cable connector. It features a flat, smooth frequency response and delivers a quiet, fixed-placed, long-life gooseneck for superior performance. 

What is a Boundary Microphone? 

Boundary microphones are engineered for spoken word applications, especially in meeting and conference environments. The mics are designed to be placed on a table in front of the person who is speaking. With a wide range of sizes and shapes available, they can produce high-quality, constant voice pick-up for any size group.

Audio-Technica have an abundance of boundary microphones, including the ES947C/FM5 cardioid condenser boundary mic and the ES9450/TB3 miniature omnidirectional microphone, allowing you to select a mic that will meet your precise needs. With their unobstructive design they are ideal for tabletops, ceilings or panels for conferencing, recording, monitoring and other demanding sound pickup applications.

What is a Ribbon Microphone? 

Ribbon microphones are the most natural mics for capturing vocals, instruments and even the ambience in a room. With their figure of 8 polar patterns, ribbon mics deliver warm, smooth sound and have a robust build for a long-lasting, reliable performance. 

The groundbreaking Audio-Technica AT4080 bidirectional active ribbon microphone achieves a high-fidelity sound, while solving the problems of fragility and low output. Ribbon microphones offer natural sound reproduction and pick up the smallest details for perfectly precise sound accuracy. 

What is a Tube Microphone?

A tube microphone utilises a vacuum tube and its impedance converter passes capsule signals through the tube before the signal is outputted. The vacuum tube's role is to effectively boost this signal whilst lowering the impedance so that the sound signal is able to travel within the rest of the mic’s circuitry and through the output connection. 

The Audio-Technica AT4060A cardioid condenser tube microphone is a large-diaphragm tube mic, designed for the most demanding studio applications. Whether you're recording vocals or instruments, tube microphones give you a crystal-clear sound recording. 

Head to our newsroom for more information on wired and wireless microphones, headphones and all other audio equipment.